Liu Xiaodong:
Realistic Painting as an Action
Liu Xiaodong:
Realistic Painting as an Action
Join artist Liu Xiaodong as he discusses the changes in Chinese society that have influenced his artistic trajectory over the past four decades.
In recent years, Liu’s paintings have gone beyond documenting the human dimension within a social context. They can be regarded as an action—a comprehensive retrospective that probes into reality. From Liaoning to New York, the Yangtze River to Israel, the artist has continued to capture ordinary life and its underlying dynamics. In this talk, Liu will shed light on his artistic approach and the relationship of portraying emotional sensations between canvases, narrative films, and documentaries.
The talk, moderated by M+ Sigg Senior Curator and Head of Curatorial Affairs Pi Li, will be held in Mandarin. Simultaneous interpretation in Cantonese and English will be available. Click on ‘Get Tickets’ and receive the meeting link via email.
About the Artist
Liu Xiaodong (b. 1963, Jincheng, Liaoning) is one of China’s most recognised contemporary artists. Liu lives and works in Beijing and is currently a professor in the painting department at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Translating the experience of sketching, photography, and documentary into painting, Liu adopts an unadorned realistic style to depict the sincere emotions of the working class in contemporary China during drastic social changes. Liu has collaborated with different directors to uncover the complicated process behind his paintings, including in Still Life, which won 63rd Leone d'oro award in Venice, and Hometown Boy, named Best Documentary in the 2011 Golden Horse Awards.
Portrait of Liu Xiaodong. Photo: Shi Qian. Courtesy of the artist
Image at top: Liu Xiaodong. Eating, 2000. Oil on canvas, 199.3 x 199.7 cm. M+ Sigg Collection (donation). © Liu Xiaodong